IPL 2024: ‘Combining with big-hitting Narine helps in producing big PowerPlay scores,’ says KKR opener Salt

The England batter said that Narine’s explosive batting this season helps in getting the pressure off him to have a high strike rate in the early overs, leading to them scoring well in tandem.

Published : Apr 22, 2024 18:05 IST , Kolkata - 2 MINS READ

Salt said there was not much conversation with ‘low key’ Narine while they batted and they ‘kept it simple’.
Salt said there was not much conversation with ‘low key’ Narine while they batted and they ‘kept it simple’. | Photo Credit: K.R Deepak / The Hindu
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Salt said there was not much conversation with ‘low key’ Narine while they batted and they ‘kept it simple’. | Photo Credit: K.R Deepak / The Hindu

As a fellow opening batter and as a wicketkeeper to an unpredictable spinner, Englishman Phil Salt is experiencing an interesting rapport with West Indian Sunil Narine during their current stint for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

While opening the innings with Narine has been enjoyable for Salt, keeping to him has tested Salt’s anticipation.

“It’s great batting with Sunil. He has got a very different sort of skill set when he’s opening the batting,” said Salt at the Knight Golf, an annual charity event aimed at fostering the growth of young talent and empowering marginalised communities in the state, here on Monday.

“I suppose one of the good things for me is it takes the pressure off and I don’t have to strike with 200 in my first 10 balls. Normally, one of us gets going, and the other one feeds the strike. We can produce really big power plays, which is something that we’ve done.”

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Salt said there was not much conversation with ‘low key’ Narine while they batted. “Our conversations are mainly, who’s going to take what ball, who likes to match up, left-arm, spin, right-arm pace, all that sort of thing. We keep it very, very simple.”

However, with Narine the bowler in action, keeping is not easy for Salt.

“It can be a tough job. On the used pitches, keeping to Sunil, I don’t know which way the ball is turning, I don’t know what the bloke is thinking with the bat in his hands. I’ve been doing well so far, hopefully keep it going,” Salt said.

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